HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1988-04-20, Page 12Page 2 — The Lucknow Central
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Martin Van Meeteren
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by Angela Jardine
Do you know what it's like to have a han-
dicapped sister? I do!
On July 4th 1979, I was given a sister.
Mom and Dad named her Crystal Leigh. It
wasn't until about a month later Mom
noticed something was wrong. Crystal
didn't seem to be reaching for things or she
wasn't focusing right, so Mom took her to
the doctors in Lucknow and they sent her
to a specialist in London, They did a series
of cat scans and it was determined that
Crystal was hydrocephlic which means
she had fluid building on her brain.
Surgery was performed the next day,the
Surgeon implanted an object known as a
shunt. One end of the shunt is pushed
through the unknown portion of the brain
into the ventricals at the base of the brain.
The other end runs under the skin just in
behind the ear. At this point a resourvior
and pump are put in place and the remain-
ing part of the shunt is pushed down to the
outer cavity of the stomach. With the shunt
in place, it works in this way. The fluid is
pumped off the brain and collected in the
resourvior when this is full a valve opens
and the fluid drains down into the stomach
where it is absorbed.
After Crystal's surgery she was in the
hospital for about. two weeks before she
came home. Even though Crystal had, had
her surgery she was still left with many
problems.
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Lisa Gollan
After being at home for about a month
Crystal then returned to London to see a
series of doctors for an assessment on her
condition,, Then the doctors told Mom and
Dad Crystal was blind, mentally and
physically handicapped, epileptic and had
scoliosis which is a side to side curve of the
spine. Mom and Dad were told these condi-
tions were so severe Crystal would never
walk, talk, or be aware of her surroun-
dings. The doctors thought Mom and Dad
should place Crystal in an Institition.
Bay! has Crystal ever proven them
wrong because if they saw her today they
wouldn't even recognize her.
Since the day of the assessment when
Mom brought Crystal home she has been
learning to do many things.
Bus drivers
by Tara Thacker
There are some special people helping
our students get to and from the school
everyday.
Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Hoeff, Mrs. Brooks,
Mrs. Shepherd and Mrs. Schlosser take
time out of their day to safely drive many
students to school.
These women are super drivers and we
would like to thank them for caring.
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Mr, ee,nr.e..±*
-I S Q u. r. A rade.,
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